Balancing game with pivoted receptacle cover member

ABSTRACT

A game of the type wherein playing pieces are deposited on a surface according to the dictates of a chance device until an excessive number of playing pieces are deposited thereupon, resulting in a dumping or tilting action of the playing surface, characterized by the provision of a supporting member in the form of a simulated pot-like receptacle and a playing piece receiving surface in the form of a lid-like member pivoted to the open end of the receptacle, with the receiving surface divided into discrete zones, and a plurality of visually identifiable playing pieces for depositing on the zones of the playing surface. Chance devices are provided for determining which zone is to receive a playing piece and for further determining which type of playing piece is to be deposited in the determined zone.

United States Patent Breslow [151 3,656,746 1 Apr. 18,1972

[54] BALANCING GAME WITH PIVOTED RECEPTACLE COVER MEMBER OTHERPUBLICATIONS Sears Christmas Book, 1968, p. 478, Tip-It" Sears ChristmasBook, 1968, p. 481, Don t Spill the Beans Primary Examiner-Anton O.Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorneyl-lofgren, Wegner,Allen, Stellman & McCord [5 7] ABSTRACT A game of the type whereinplaying pieces are deposited on a surface according to the dictates of achance device until an excessive number of playing pieces are depositedthereupon, resulting in a dumping or tilting action of the playingsurface, characterized by the provision of a supporting member in theform of a simulated pot-like receptacle and a playing piece receivingsurface in the form of a lid-like member pivoted to the open end of thereceptacle, with the receiving surface divided into discrete zones, anda plurality of visually identifiable playing pieces for depositing onthe zones of the playing surface. Chance devices are provided fordetermining which zone is to receive a'playing piece and for furtherdetermining which type of playing piece is to be deposited in thedetermined zone.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BALANCING GAME WITH PIVOTED RECEPTACLE COVERMEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION i younger children. Interest in suchgames is heightened by the activity simulated in the dumping or tippingaction and there is a continuing desire in the art for unique fonns ofactivity simulated by these dumping type games. Also there is acontinuing desire to provide such games which also require thecoordinate learning skills of different activities such as number andcolor recognition. Accordingly, this invention is directed to satisfyingthe aforementioned continuing need and desires in the game art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to theprovision of an improved game of the type wherein playing pieces aredeposited on a surface to cause the surface or a related member to movefollowing the deposit of an excessive number of playing pieces thereonaccording to the dictates of a chance device or the like.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the inventionincludes the provision of a playing piece receiving surface supportingmember, preferably in the form of a simulated pot with a handle. Thereceiving surface comprises a simulated movable cover which ispreferably medially pivoted to the open end of the pot. The cover isprovided with an outer surface divided into different numbered receivingzones. Playing pieces of different colors are provided and preferablysimulate easily recognizable animals or birds or the like. Multiplechance means are provided, one for determining the color of the playingpiece to be deposited on the receivingsurface and the other to determinethe zone of the receiving surface into which the playing piece is to bedeposited. When too many playing pieces have been deposited on oneportion of the receiving surface, the entire surface will pivot to dumpthe playing pieces into the simulated pot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thegame device of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section view taken generally along the lines 22 of FIG. 1.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention and is not intended to limit the inventionto the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game of this inventionincludes a playing piece receiving surface supporting member orreceptacle 12, shown herein as a simulated pot. The member 12 has asimulated handle 14 and a bottom 16 for resting on a supporting surface16a. Extending upwardly from the bottom 16 is a generally cylindricalupright wall structure 18 terminating in an open peripheral edge 20. Agenerally centrally formed opening 22 is provided in the bottom 16.

The peripheral edge 20 is provided with spaced opposed notches 24a and24b for receiving hubs 26 extending laterally outwardly from oppositeportions of a playing piece receiving member 28, shown herein as asimulated lid portion for the member 12. Washers 30a and 30b arepositioned about the hubs 26 interiorly of the opposed notches 24a and24b to provide a pivotal mounting for the playing piece receivingsurface 28, thereby movably mounting the same with respect to itssupport.

The playing piece receiving member 28 includes an upper surface dividedinto a plurality of playing piece redeiving zones 32 through 42. Thesezones are defined by the three centrally intersecting rib-like lines 44,46 and 48, thereby producing six such zones. It is to be understood thatany number of zones could be provided within the limitations of spaceand increasing the complexity of the game. Each of the zones is providedwith a zone identification means here shown in the form of numbers 32athrough 420 for each zone 32 through 42, respectively. In the preferredform of embodiment, the identification means'are numerals with 32acomprising the numeral 1, 34a comprising the numeral 2 and so on.

A plurality of playing pieces 50 are also provided. Preferably, theplaying pieces 50 simulate some form of well known animal or bird or thelike. In the illustrated embodiment, the playing pieces include asimulated duck or goose 52 mounted on a base 54 for providing a stablesupport therefor. In addition, it is preferred that the playing pieceshave some form of visual identifying characteristic, such as being of adifferent color as shown with respect to the different colors of theplaying pieces 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d.

Means are provided for determining the deposit of certain playing pieceswithin certain of the zones. Preferably this means includes the chancedevice means. In the illustrated embodiment, two separate such chancedevice means are shown, although it is to be understood that a singlechance means device of a dual chance concept could be provided.Accordingly, a chance device in the form of a die 56 is provided for thewell known throwing thereof by a participant to determine the numbercorresponding to playing piece receiving zone 32 through 42 on which aplaying piece is to be deposited.

In addition, a chance device 58 is also provided for indicating theparticular playing piece which is to be deposited in a receiving zone.Chance device 58 is of the well known spinner type including a flatcard-like base 60 and segmental indicia zones including color zones 62a,62b, 62c and 62d corresponding to the different colored playing pieces50a, 50b, 50c and 50d. In addition, a so-called pass zone 64 is providedand another variant zone 66 is provided. A spinner 68 is pivoted forrotational movement to indicate, upon its stoppage, the particular playto be taken. If the spinner lands in one of the color zones then aplaying piece of that color is to be placed into one of the receivingzones to be determined by the number dictated by the throw of the die56. If the spinner lands in the zone 64, then the player receives a passand does not have to deposit any playing piece onto the receiving member28. However, if the spinner lands in the zone 66, a player could berequired to take some special action, such as placing all of his playingpieces 50 on the surface member 28 or any other reasonable variant tothe usual play of the game.

Scoring of the game could be accomplished in many different ways.Different values could be given for playing pieces of different color orthey could all be given the same value. The player who last places aplaying piece on the receiving member 28 to cause it to tilt, could beawarded all of the numbers of playing pieces that are deposited by thataction. Conversely, that player who causes the receiving member to tiltcould be the loser." Once the playing pieces have dropped to theinterior of the receptacle 12, it need merely be lifted from itssupporting surface 16a and, through the provision of the open bottom 22,the playing pieces may be regathered and redistributed to severalplayers for the start of another round of the game.

It can thus be seenthat the game of this invention provides .anotherunique approach to the games of the playing piece determine the properplacement of the playing piece. Thus, it

provides the feature of requiring the several players to go through dualrecognition and execution concepts according to the dictates of thechance devices. It is further to be understood that instead ofhaving'common shaped playing pieces of different colors, a variant ofthe game would be to have different types of playing pieces so as todistinguish which playing piece is to be deposited on which zone. Inthis case, another recognition factor would be added; that of attemptingto determine whether or not a playing piece such as a simulated duck orsimulated horse or the like is to be deposited on the receiving member.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clear- I ness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in theart.

lclaim: l. A game device comprising: a supporting member for a playingpiece receiving surface; a playing piece receiving surface movablyconnected to said supporting member and including different playingpiece receiving areas identified by different numerical indicia; aplurality of playing pieces having different colors; and two chancedevice means with one chance device having colors corresponding with thecolors of said playing pieces and the other chance device havingnumerals to further determine the number of the receiving area fordeposit of the colored playing piece selected by said one chance device.

2. Game apparatus comprising an open top receptacle, a playing surfacemember pivotally mounted on said receptacle in covering relation to saidtop, said member being normally balanced about its pivot mounting topresent a horizontal surface and having its upper surface marked toprovide different playing piece receiving areas, a plurality of playingpieces of different identifiable characteristics, said playing pieceshaving sufficient weight to disturb the balance of said playing surfacemember when a plurality of said pieces are placed thereon in spacedrelation to the pivot axis of said member, whereby the placement of aplurality of said playing pieces on said member can cause the latter totilt sufficiently to deposit said playing pieces into said receptacle,and chance means for indicating which identifiable playing piece is tobe placed in which playing piece receiving area on said playing surface.

1. A game device comprising: a supporting member for a playing piecereceiving surface; a playing piece receiving surface movably connectedto said supporting member and including different playing piecereceiving areas identified by different numerical indicia; a pluralityof playing pieces having different colors; and two chance device meanswith one chance device having colors corresponding with the colors ofsaid playing pieces and the other chance device having numerals tofurther determine the number of the receiving area for deposit of thecolored playing piece selected by said one chance device.
 2. Gameapparatus comprising an open top receptacle, a playing surface memberpivotally mounted on said receptacle in covering relation to said top,said member being normally balanced about its pivot mounting to presenta horizontal surface and having its upper surface marked to providedifferent playing piece receiving areas, a plurality of playing piecesof different identifiable characteristics, said playing pieces havingsufficient weight to disturb the balance of said playing surface memberwhen a plurality of said pieces are placed thereon in spaced relation tothe pivot axis of said member, whereby the placement of a plurality ofsaid playing Pieces on said member can cause the latter to tiltsufficiently to deposit said playing pieces into said receptacle, andchance means for indicating which identifiable playing piece is to beplaced in which playing piece receiving area on said playing surface.